The Devil's Prize Toot

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 11 September 1914, Page 2

The Devil's Prize Toot

The Germans have an old story that the devil once determined to sell his tools. So he took an invoice of them and set his price upon each one. There was hate, distrust, malice, theft, murder, lust—all fearful ' and awesome tools, against which humanity has fought since man was driven from the garden, tools that have crushed the heart and tortured the mind, and have spread sor- ~ row and despair throughout the. world. Then at l«.st he took down one tool. It was heavy and wedgeshaped, and the devil handled it with fondness. Then he set his price upon this tool, those who would buy the devil's outfit marvelled. He had asked more for this one tool than for all the rest ?" "That," said his majesty, "is the. one tool which I use against man when all others have failed. It has A brought success to me in my fight S^^ against man, when, had I not had it, he would inevitably have been victor. That is why I prize it so highly. This tool is discouragement. There is no tool like it," continued the devil. " Men are armed against the others, because they know they are my tools, and they hate me. All the other toolare terrifying, and man has learne;i that he must have his shield ready against them. But this one has none of the appearance of being mine. It does not warn by its appearance. Note its wedge shape. Man is 'pierced by it, without knowing it. It c'Jitci'.-i where other;; cannot, and once it has entered, it slowly presses open the wound till man fs vitiated, and he surrenders to me without an effort." Discouragement never should be permitted to enter. Satan knew its power, and the man who permits that tool to escape the shield of Confidence has an * uneven fight for existence.